Racing Pigs

The Seminole County Fair and Exposition, the county's first fair in 20 years, continues today through March 6 at Seminole Greyhound Park on Seminola Boulevard.Tickets at the gate are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and children ages 6 to 12. For ticket and other fair information, call 699-0770.Admission is also $5 for ''Flying with the Blue Angels,'' a live-action film and motion-simulated experience presented by Iwerks. The film - captured by a special mounted camera - puts the fairgoer in the seat of the F/A-18 Hornet flown by the Blue Angels, the heralded Navy and Marine Corps flight demonstration squadron.

A 6-ton herd of buffalo thunders into Orlando today, along with racing pigs, ostriches and a human cast of 250, for the opening of a dinner-show attraction built by country music legend Dolly Parton. The $28 million Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show, just off Interstate 4 on Vineland Avenue, features a horse-riding, flag-waving tribute to America -- with heaping helpings of roasted chicken and cornpone comedy thrown in. All for $43.99 for adults and $28.99 for children ages 3 to 11, plus tax. The two shows today are sold out, company representatives said Wednesday, and the Saturday shows likely will be before the doors to the 1,200-seat stadium open.

High-rise Ferris wheels, a celebrity ribbon-cutter and racing pigs can mean only one thing - opening day at the 48th annual Kissimmee Valley Livestock Show and Fair.The fair opens today at noon when Mike Storms, WCPX-TV Channel 6 sports director, snips the ribbon in the Agriculture Center arena at 1901 East U.S. Highway 192.''It's a great kickoff to one of the most original, down-home county fairs in the area,'' said Lori Booker of the public relations firm Carlman Booker in Maitland.Shortly after the ribbon cutting, Brangus cattle will hoof it to the arena looking for some ribbons of their own - the shiny blue kind.

EUSTIS - Starting today, the 82nd Lake County Fair will be in full bloom, from the colorful entries in the horticulture exhibit and flashy lights of the midway to the bright ribbons awarded to children and adults who show their livestock during the 10-day event. As of Wednesday, preparations were running smoothly, said fair manager Charles E. "Happy" Norris II, who hopes to draw more than 65,000 visitors. "The county fair is a part of our culture that will never die,'' said Norris, a member of the third generation of his family to be active in the fair.

The Seminole County Fair and Exposition, the county's first fair in 20 years, continues today through March 6 at Seminole Greyhound Park on Seminola Boulevard.Tickets at the gate are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and children ages 6 to 12. For ticket and other fair information, call (407) 699-0770.Admission is also $5 for Flying with the Blue Angels, a live action film and motion simulated experience presented by Iwerks. The film - captured by a special, mounted camera - puts the fairgoer in the seat of the F/A-18 Hornet flown by the Blue Angels, the heralded Navy and Marine Corps flight demonstration squadron.

EUSTIS - This little piggy went to market. This little piggy stayed home. This little piggy had roast beef.And this little piggy will have cookies.Fairgoers can go hog wild as they cheer on their favorite piglet in pursuit of Oreo cookies waiting at the finish line during the 78th annual Lake County Fair.The famous Robinson's Racing Pigs will race daily during the fair, which begins a 10-day run today at the fairgrounds in Eustis.Gates open at 6 p.m.The pampered porcine thoroughbreds will don colored silks identifying the sponsors as they race around a 150-foot oval course.

Clear skies and unseasonably warm weather increased attendance at the Volusia County Fair and Youth Show by about 20 percent over last year's rain- soaked fair, organizers said Monday.An estimated 130,000 people went through the turnstiles during the 11 days of the fair, which ended Sunday afternoon. That was less than the record of 160,000 set in 1984, but organizers said it was vast improvement over last year's 108,000.Last year, rain fell each day of the fair and temperatures often were chilly.

The 1990 Florida State Fair will kick off its 12-day run next week in Tampa. The annual event will feature name musical entertainment, exhibits and a midway along with more unusual attractions such as alligator wrestling, racing pigs, mock trials and a pet fashion show.In order of appearance the music acts will include Mel Tillis Wednesday (the fair's opening day); the Ink Spots Wednesday through next Friday; the Glenn Miller Orchestra Wednesday and Thursday; Helen Cornelius and Jim Ed Brown next Friday; Jeannie C. Riley Feb. 10 and 11; Charley Pride Feb. 12; Ray Price Feb. 13; the Diamonds Feb. 13-15; the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra Feb. 14 and 15; Johnny Cash Feb. 16; and Porter Wagoner Feb. 16 and 17.All performances are included in the fair's gate admission of $4 for adults and $2 for ages 6-11 (age 5 and under admitted free)

EUSTIS - Starting today, the 82nd Lake County Fair will be in full bloom, from the colorful entries in the horticulture exhibit and flashy lights of the midway to the bright ribbons awarded to children and adults who show their livestock during the 10-day event. As of Wednesday, preparations were running smoothly, said fair manager Charles E. "Happy" Norris II, who hopes to draw more than 65,000 visitors. "The county fair is a part of our culture that will never die,'' said Norris, a member of the third generation of his family to be active in the fair.

From racing pigs to simulated flights with the Blue Angels at blurring speeds, most people should fancy something at the first Seminole County Fair in 20 years.The fair, opening Thursday and running through March 6, will transform the 165-acre Seminole Greyhound Park into a melange of plant and gardening displays, arts and crafts, exotic animals, games and rides, forest firefighting demonstrations, specialty cars and Central Florida entertainers.The dog track, built in 1917, is located at the eastern end of Seminola Boulevard, which is off U.S. Highway 17-92 in Casselberry.

No need to wait for the latest economic forecast to find out if tourism is picking up in Central Florida. Racing pigs and chickens are this region's harbingers of good times ahead. It's not that country singer Dolly Parton's pigs and other performing animals will attract that many tourists. It's the fact that Ms. Parton had enough confidence in the region to give the go-ahead to build the Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show in Orlando. She delayed her original plans to begin construction late last year so she could see how the region's tourism market would rebound after Sept.

With 12 full days and 319 acres, there's plenty to see and do at this year's Florida State Fair. Country music stars Mark Chesnutt and Clay Davidson will perform at 2 and 7 p.m. today on the Time Warner Stage in Entertainment Hall. Tickets are $5 plus fair admission. From shellfish to aquatic plant life, the aquaculture display and accompanying presentations demonstrate the many aspects of Florida's diverse aquaculture industry. The Bits 'N Pieces Puppet Theater bring "Puss in Boots" to life.

How do you get a pig to race? With an Oreo cookie, of course.``That is the secret to training pigs to race against each other,'' said Carlota Robinson, an owner and trainer with Robinson's Racing Pigs. ``They won't respond to anything but love and affection and Oreo cookies.''Robinson's Racing Pigs are making a return to the Volusia County Fair this year after a 14-year absence. The speedy porkers will race daily at the fair, which begins Thursday and runs through Nov. 14.Colored ``racing silks'' are placed on each pig's back with carpet tape and the pigs race around a 6-foot-wide, 150-foot-long oval track.

EUSTIS - This little piggy went to market. This little piggy stayed home. This little piggy had roast beef.And this little piggy will have cookies.Fairgoers can go hog wild as they cheer on their favorite piglet in pursuit of Oreo cookies waiting at the finish line during the 78th annual Lake County Fair.The famous Robinson's Racing Pigs will race daily during the fair, which begins a 10-day run today at the fairgrounds in Eustis.Gates open at 6 p.m.The pampered porcine thoroughbreds will don colored silks identifying the sponsors as they race around a 150-foot oval course.

Labor Day activities in Volusia County this year will feature the usual entertainment and cookout fare.This year, though, there also will be a pig roast, sky diving and model powerboat racing.At Skydive DeLand - at 1600 Flightline Boulevard near the DeLand airport - visitors will be treated to a chili cook-off as well as a chance to feast on pig.''We've been doing this forever, it seems,'' said Suzie Basse, a spokeswoman for Skydive DeLand. ''It is a good way to end our summer sky-diving season.

The Seminole County Fair and Exposition, the county's first fair in 20 years, continues today through March 6 at Seminole Greyhound Park on Seminola Boulevard.Tickets at the gate are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and children ages 6 to 12. For ticket and other fair information, call (407) 699-0770.Admission is also $5 for Flying with the Blue Angels, a live action film and motion simulated experience presented by Iwerks. The film - captured by a special, mounted camera - puts the fairgoer in the seat of the F/A-18 Hornet flown by the Blue Angels, the heralded Navy and Marine Corps flight demonstration squadron.

The wheels are in motion for this year's Lake County Fair, scheduled for April 5-13 at the fairgrounds.This year's theme is ''Where Memories Are Made,'' and fair manager Betty Dittman says, ''At this year's fair, we will all reminisce on all the good times we've had.''In 1921, the Lake County Fair was launched with the main attraction being a poultry show. It was staged several blocks north of Waterman Medical Center.The next year, the Lake County Fair Association expanded the exposition to include a cat and dog show, other livestock, farm machinery, and educational and produce exhibits - all under tents.

The Seminole County Fair and Exposition, the county's first fair in 20 years, continues today through March 6 at Seminole Greyhound Park on Seminola Boulevard.Tickets at the gate are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and children ages 6 to 12. For ticket and other fair information, call 699-0770.Admission is also $5 for ''Flying with the Blue Angels,'' a live-action film and motion-simulated experience presented by Iwerks. The film - captured by a special mounted camera - puts the fairgoer in the seat of the F/A-18 Hornet flown by the Blue Angels, the heralded Navy and Marine Corps flight demonstration squadron.